As the newest addition to the OmniFlex™ line of sealing solutions, R22 has already proven its worth in an application involving air-actuated valves. Sealing such valves is always a challenge -- even for the most sophisticated sealing solutions -- but OmniFlex™ R22 met or exceeded all application requirements and is saving the customer thousands of dollars annually. The details exemplify Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics' ability to adapt existing materials to very specific customer applications.

The fundamental objective for this application was to improve the OmniFlex™ fluoroelastomer's wearability. Based on customer feedback, basic versions of OmniFlex™ already outlast perfluoroelastomers, but the customer was looking for an even longer wearlife. Because OmniFlex™ is liquid injection molded (LIM), fillers can easily be added to give the material the characteristics desired for any particular application. In this case, Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics developed a material formulation -- OmniFlex™ R22 -- that delivered on the customer's wearlife requirement while exceeding other performance criteria.

Following are the specific criteria the valve seal needed to meet, and the extent to which OmniFlex™ R22 exceeded them: